Vise jaw cover plate



y 30, 1967 A. POPOW ETAL 3,322,423

VISE JAW COVER PLATE Filed June 24, 1964 MMMMMMMMWMultan INVENTORS WWWHPR 0 PP United States Patent 3,322,423 VISE JAW COVER PLATE AnatoliyPopow, RR. 1, Box 57, Crystal Lake, Ill. 60014, and Glenn A. Porter,Rte.'1, Box 262, Cary, Ill. 60013 Filed June 24, 1964, Ser. No. 377,5744 Claims. (Cl. 269-274) This invention relates to an improved coverplate or face plate for vise jaws. More particularly, the invention isdirected to an attachment or adapter which is substantiallycomplementary to the shape of the vise jaws and which is readily appliedto and removable therefrom.

The invention finds utility in that it provides a means by which therelatively hard work-gripping surfaces of the vise jaws may be coveredwith a softer work gripping composition to obviate marr-ing of articlesto be held in the vise jaws. The prior art includes structures whichhave been proposed for applications to which the present invention isdirected. However, these prior art structures have objectionable orundesirable features which limit and impair their usefulness and theiracceptance. The aim of the present invention is to provide a vise jawadapter which obviates the objections to related prior art devices.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a detachable faceplate for vise jaws, which face plate is simply and readily appliedwithout the need for tools and which grips the vise jaws firmly andsecurely.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integrally formedsemi-resilient adapter which may be attached to a vise jaw to cover aworkpiece-clamping face thereof in secure aligned relationshiptherewith.

Another important object is to provide a vise jaw clamp havingresiliently deformable side walls which taper in a direction toconstitute the side walls gripping elements upon application of theclamp to a vise jaw.

Still another object is to provide a vise jaw face plate which is firmlysecured in operative disposition by gripping pressures derived from thestructure of the vise jaw adapter.

A related object of the invention is to provide a series of vise jawadapters each uniquely sized and dimensioned for application to a visejaw having corresponding physical parameters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a v-ise jaw adapterfabricated of uniquely suitable non-metallic materials having both therequisite mechanical strength and hardness in combination with a finitedegree of elastic resiliency.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following specification taken inconjunction with the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a vise showing two adapters embodyingthe present invention and installed in operative position on the jaws ofa conventional vise;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective rear view of the adapter;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the adapter;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 66 of FIGURE 3.

The vise jaw adapter of the invent-ion is a four-sided structure, thevarious sides intersecting eachother at sub stantially 90 to form a visejaw cover generally box-like in shape, the bottom and the rear wallsbeing omitted. A very important structural feature of the adapter isthat the internal longitudinal dimension as measured between the opposedside walls is not a constant, this distance increasing somewhat from therear to the forward wall of the adapter and from the base of the adapterto the top 3,322,423 Patented May 30, 1967 wall. The maximum lateralinner dimension conforms or is slightly greater than the actual width ofthe vise jaw to which the adapter is to be applied. The minimum lateralinner dimension is somewhat less than the width of the vise jaw, so thatupon positioning the adapter over the jaw the side walls of the adapterare urged outwardly. This physical deformation causes the side walls tostress against the end surfaces of the vise jaw for firm grippingengagement. This gripping action in combination with the specificinternal configuration of the adapter, which is described below,precludes the inadvertent displacement of the adapter from the vise jawand ensures that the adapter will remain securely in place at all times.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in FIGURES 2through 6, for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, a preferredembodiment of the vise jaw adapter of the invention. In the preferredembodiment depicted, the adapter 10 illustrated comprises asubstantially rectangular vertical panel or face plate 12 which ispreferably scored or hatched to provide relatively recessed 14 andraised 16 portions (FIGURE 5) for more firmly engaging or gripping aworkpiece 20 secured between opposed jaws 22 and 24 of a conventionalvise 28 (FIGURE 1). Extending rearwardly at opposed lateral edges of theface plate 12 are a pair of substantially vertical side walls 30 and 32.The over-all structure is completed by a top panel or a flange 34integrally formed with and fastened along the top edges of the faceplate 12 and the opposed side walls 30 and 32. The composite is aunitary integral structure preferably formed by molding of a plasticcomposition having the requisite ultimate physical and structuralproperties and characteristics.

Many different materials are suitable, among which are: polyamides(nylon), polymers of halogenated hydrocarbons (Teflon and Kel-F) such aspolytetrafluoro ethylene and polytrifluoro chlor ethylene,polyethylenes, polypropylenes, urethanes, polyesters such aspolyalkylmethacrylates, rubber, synthetic elastomeric compositions, andthe like. Nylon resins and acetal resins (-Delrin and Zytel, E. I. duPont), are particularly suitable.

Whereas, the face plate 12 and the top panel or flange 34 are preferablyplanar and of a constant through thickness, as indicated schematicallyin FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the side walls 30 and 32 are double wedgedshaped, the inner surfaces 40 and 42 of the side walls 30 and 32diverging in two directions in the case of each side wall. Asillustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the inner surfaces 40 and 42 of the sidewalls diverge upwardly to form an angle of less than with the top paneland to define an opening the lateral limits of which increase graduallyfrom the base to the top. At the same time, as indicated in FIGURE 4,the inner surfaces 40 and 42 of the side walls 30 and 32 each divergeoutwardly in a direction from the rear or free edge of the side walls tothe front or face plate to form an angle of less than 90 with the faceplate. The outer surfaces 36 and 38 of the side walls 30 and 32 extendperpendicular to the face plate 12 and the top flange 34. In effect,each side wall is formed as a wedge which is generally rectangular inshape and which is substantially symmetrical about a plane transverse tothe side extending from the free corners 44 and 46 of the side walls 30and 32 to the inner top edge 50 of the face plate 12.

In accordance with the practice of the present invention, the minimumlateral dimension D as measured between the opposed inner surfaces 40and 42 of the adapter at the free corners 44 and 46 of the side walls 30and 32 is slightly less than the width of the jaw 22 of the vise 28. Ashas been pointed out, the lateral dimension intern-ally of the adapterincreases in a direction inwardly and upwardly from the opposed freeedges 44 and 46 of the side walls 30 and 32 and at its maximum thislateral dimension is substantially equal to the width of the jaws 22 and24 of the vise 28. Thus, in positioning the adapter onto a supportingvise jaw 22, the side walls 30 and 32 of the adapter are distendedoutwardly and bear resiliently and stressingly against the end walls ofthe vise jaw for firm gripping engagement therewith.

The vise jaw 22 seats firmly within the adapter and the innervise-contacting surfaces of the adapter are substantially contiguouswith the outer surfaces of the vise jaw throughout, the side wallsdeforming so that the inner surfaces 40 and 42 move into the plane ofthe end walls of the vise jaw. In FIGURE 1 two identical adapters areillustrated as mounted upon the jaws 22 and 24 of a conventional vise28. It will be apparent that the same adapters are useful on either ofthe two vise jaws, it being necessary merely to reverse their relativepositions so that the face plates 12 confront each other to grip aworkpiece therebetween.

It is also readily apparent that no changes or modification of the visejaws are required in order to adapt them for use with the structuredescribed.

While disclosures of preferred embodiments of the adapter of theinvention and of preferred methods of fabrication and materials havebeen provided, it will be apparent that numerous modifications andvariations thereof may be made without departing from the underlyingprinciples of the invention. It is, therefore, desired by the followingclaims to include within the scope of the invention all such variationsand modifications by which substantially the results of this inventionmay be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalentmeans.

What is claimed is:

1. A vise jaw covering comprising:

a semi-resilient unitary assembly having a longitudinally extendingvertical plate positionable against a workengaging face of a vise jaw incontiguous abutting relationship thereto,

an integral flange extending rearwardly and transversely from a topperipheral edge of said plate and adapted to .be supported upon and tocover a top wall of said vise jaw,

and a pair of generally parallel end walls integrally joined to saidplate and to said flange at opposite ends of said plate and said flange,

said end walls having inner surfaces converging downwardly andrearwardly, and said end walls being resiliently deformable to bringsaid inner surfaces into substantially perpendicular relationship withrespect to said plate and said flange upon placement of said coveringover a vise jaw in resilient gripping engagement therewith.

2. A vise jaw cap of integral unitary construction adapted forpositioning over a vise jaw in gripping engagement therewith to cover awork-holding face thereof and comprising:

a hollow box-like body having a generally rectangular laterallyextending vertical front wall,

a top wall joined and coextensive with said front wall and extendingrearwardly from a top peripheral edge thereof to form an L-shapedchannel, and

a pair of end walls integrally joined to said channel at end peripheraledges thereof to define an open chamber,

inner surfaces of said end walls converging in a direction rearwardlyfrom said front wall and downwardly from said top wall to provide asomewhat restricted lateral opening between opposed free corners of saidend walls,

said end walls spaced to press inwardly against corresponding lateralwalls of said vise jaw, and being resiliently deformable to permitpositioning of said cap over said vise jaw to cover said work-holdingface of said vise jaw contiguously.

3. A vise jaw covering comprising a vertical principal panel disposed tooverlie said workpiece-clamping face of said vise jaw in contiguousrelation therewith,

a horizontal flange extending rearwardly of said panel and joinedthereto to define an L-shaped channel, and a pair of substantiallyvertical side walls each joined at two adjacent edges to correspondinglateral edges of said panel and said flange,

said side walls having principal outer surfaces perpendicular to saidface plate and to said top flange and having corresponding principalinner surfaces out of parallel with said outer surfaces to define sidewalls of a wedge shape configuration,

said wedge-shaped side walls being generally bi-laterally symmetricalwith respect to a plane perpendicular to said principal outer surfacesof said side walls and including the diagonals of said side wallsextending from free corners of said side walls.

4. An integrally formed semi-resilient adapter for attachment to a visejaw to cover a workpiece-clamping face thereof, said adapter comprising:

a substantially rectangular vertical panel adapted to overlie saidworkpiece-clamping face of a vise jaw in contiguous relation therewith,

a pair of substantially vertical side walls extending rearwardly fromopposed lateral edges of said panel and spaced to press resilientlyagainst corresponding end walls of said vise jaw for firmly grippingsaid end walls,

an elongated horizontally extending flange joined at its opposite endswith said side walls and joined at an elongated lateral edge with acoextensive upper edge of said panel, said flange adapted to rest uponthe top surface of said vise jaw and to be supported theresaid verticalpanel and said horizontal flange each having inner and outer parallelsurfaces, and

said side walls having internal surfaces diverging inwardly and upwardlyfrom free edges thereof toward said vertical panel and said horizontalflange,

said side walls spaced apart and shaped to define with said panel andsaid flange a vise jaw receiving opening having a lateral span asmeasured at opposed free corners of said walls slightly less than thespan between said end walls of said vise jaw,

said opening gradually increasing in width as measured upon upward andinward penetration into said opening to define ultimate internal lateraldimensions substantially equal to the span between said walls of saidvise jaw,

said side walls being resistively deformable and resiliently responsiveto lateral spreading forces applied thereto at said opposed free cornersto facilitate positioning of said adapter onto said vise jaw for firmlygripping engagement therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1944 Fest 269274 1/ 1957Linskey et al 269-274 FOREIGN PATENTS 1944 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES ROBERT C. RIORDAN, Primary Examiner. J. F. MCKEOWN,Assistant Examiner.

1. A VISE JAW COVERING COMPRISING: A SEMI-RESILIENT UNITARY ASSEMBLYHAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING VERTICAL PLATE POSITIONABLE AGAINST AWORKENGAGING FACE OF A VISE JAW IN CONTIGUOUS ABUTTING RELATIONSHIPTHERETO, AN INTEGRAL FLANGE EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND TRANSVERSELY FROM ATOP PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID PLATE AND ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED UPON ANDTO COVER A TOP WALL OF SAID VISE JAW, AND A PAIR OF GENERALLY PARALLELEND WALLS INTEGRALLY JOINED TO SAID PLATE AND TO SAID FLANGE AT OPPOSITEENDS OF SAID PLATE AND SAID FLANGE, SAID END WALLS HAVING INNER SURFACESCONVERGING DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY, AND SAID END WALLS BEINGRESILIENTLY DEFORMABLE TO BRING SAID INNER SURFACES INTO SUBSTANTIALLYPERPENDICULAR RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID PLATE AND SAID FLANGEUPON PLACEMENT OF SAID COVERING OVER A VISE JAW IN RESILIENT GRIPPINGENGAGEMENT THEREWITH.